Different Types of Stem Cells
PluripotentPluripotency in the broad sense refers to "having more than one potential outcome". In cell biology, the definition of pluripotent has come to refer to a stem cell that has the potential to develop, or "differentiate" into any of the three germ layers: endoderm (interior stomach lining, gastrointestinal tract, the lungs), mesoderm (muscle, bone, blood, urogenital), or ectoderm (epidermal tissues and nervous system). Pluripotent stem cells include embryonic stems identified below.
Embryonic Stem Cells
Embryonic stem cells are found in days-old embryos as shown at
the right. While
there may be healing potential in embryonic cells, ISCI
believes destroying an embryo is immoral and their use to be unethical. It
is also unnecessary due to the discovery in 2001 by an American
based company which determined full-term human placenta contains
10 times the amount of stem cells as embryonic and umbilical cord
blood. Also, embryonic stem cell treatments have created
cancerous tumors in numerous animal studies. Given all the hype
and exaggerated promises surrounding embryonic stem cells, most
people are simply unaware of the truth which is that embryonic
stem cells have yet to be tried on one human patient.
